Means for attaching names to umbrellas.



F. G. FARNHAM MEANS FOR ATTAGHJ-NG NAMES T0 UMBRELLAS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28,1916.

L23393 Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

E5 a 1 7" z E Attys.

FZFABTK GUNN FAFNHAM, 6F EILNESEALE, FENNSYLVAL AETACHIZYG NAMEE E0 UREELJELLAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. re, 1% t.

Application filed Getober 28, 1526.6. Serial Filo. 128,314.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, FRANK G. FARNHAM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Attaching Names to Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improve ments in means for attaching the owners name to that part of an umbrella or parasol known as the stretcher, and the object is to provide means by which the owners name, as well as the place of residence, may be applied in an economical and ornamental manner, and the name itself may be assembled quickly by applying the proper letter carrying elements, without the use of any tools, and which can be cheaply produced and adapted to be sent out by mail or kept in stock in large numbers in department and other stores, such as jewelry and umbrella supply houses.

My invention includes the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents the skeleton or frame of an umbrella in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a thin metal blank. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 2 after shaping.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a stretcher.

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perspectives of character bearing members, the latter shown in reverse.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a soft thin metal character element bearing tongue.

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the upper face of Fig. 9 with several character bearing elements thereon.

V Fig. 11 represents the same in reverse. Fig. 12 is a detail view of a key.

Fig. 13 is a slightly modified form of key.

Fig. 14: is a perspective of the various members mounted on a section of an umbrella stretcher.

In these drawings 1, Fig. 1, represents the stick of an umbrella, 2 the handle, 3 the runner, H ribs, 5-5 the stretchers, 6 the name applying device applied to one of the stretchers, and 6 the same applied also to a rib near its lower end. in Fig. 2 is shown a thin sheet metal blank, preferably of sheet steel, the body 7 having at one end the extensions 77. From this blank is formed the holder, shown in .detail in Fig. 3, in which 8 indicates a bent U shaped part, adapted to fit the stretcher-s 5, or rib 4. Bent at right angles and a little less than the outside depth of a stretcher, is a narrow space 99, extending on each side the full length of the holder. Two narrow vertical parts, 10-10, extend upward from the edges of portions 9, their edges being bent inward as at 1010, to provide longitudinal grooves of suihcient depth and width to receive the character bearing elements shown in Figs. 5 to 8. At the rear end the parts 10-10 are bent downward, as at 77, to act as stops to prevent the character bearing elements from further movement along the grooves. Fig. 4 represents a section of a stretcher, 11, being the groove formed by bending and 11", that part which is connected to the runner 3. The metal character bearing plates or elements comprise spacing, period, and character bearing elements, 12 designating a spacing element or filler, 13 a character bearing plate, represented by the letter N, and 14 a period plate. These have inwardly bent flanges 15, wide and deep enough to receive the tongue 16 with the name assembled thereon. For the character elements, I use, preferably, thin sheet metal, No. 26 to 30, old English wire gage, which calipers of an inch thick, or less, and the tongue 16 is also the same thickness. But I employ for this latter element, preferably, soft sheet aluminum which, when bent up, as at 17, will show a bright silver finish and when the name is assembled can be bent up and easily cut off at 16, Fig. 11. One end 17 of the tongue acts as a stop, while the other end is preferably tapered to permit the members 5, 6 and 7 to be readily threaded onto it, the fingers only being required.

In applying a name to. an umbrella stretcher the umbrella is partly or fully opened and the holder, shown in Fig. 3, is applied to the stretcher, the bend 11 or convex side of the stretcher resting in the channel 8. A tongue 16, with the character bearing elements properly threaded thereon to spell the name, and being confined between the fiange 17 and the bent over portion of the opposite end (the surplus havingbeen trimmed oil), is then inserted or slid into the grooves of the holder above into U form lll1, the edges,

the edges 11', in the manner illustrated in bottom 11 of the stretcher, the wedge being of a width to bear on the tongue between i the edges of the character bearing elements.

One form of binding key is shown in Fig. 12, in which 18 indicates the body, about 5% of an inch thick and an inch long. A lug or projection 18 extends upward from the thickest end, the key having a slight taper longitudinally, ,the small end belng beveled as at 18", to allow it to be easily inserted between the inside of the bottom of the stretcher 11, and the under side of the tongue. The upturned part of the key acts as a stop to limit the distance when being forced home. This part of the key 18 extends upward a suificient distance to be caught by the thumb nail and withdrawn when using the device in making practical demonstrations. In Fig. 13 a slmilar key is illustrated, but without a knob. This shape of key requires less material and labor to make it and it can be forced into position until the rear end 18 comes flush with the bent up portion of the tongue 11, which insures it against removal. Two of the keys may be used, if desired, one at each end. The holder may be stamped out from| magnetic sheet steel, which would insure its retention in position on the stretcher when fitting the tongue with its members in place.

From the foregoing description it is evident that the name, for instance, or receipt of a mail order, can be assembled and with the holders and keys and proper character matter, may be mailed to the purchaser at small expense and readily a plied to the umbrella, using the fingers on y in so doing. The tongue and keys require no finish, but the character bearing elements may be finished in silver or gold dip to make an artistic contrast with the holder, which I prefer to have oxidized.

'from 0 to 9,. inclusive.

messes The character bearing members include not only the letters of the alphabet but the characters & and (30., and the numerals Since about all umbrella stretchers vary but little in size, being of an inch outside elevation and the largest about H. of an inch in cross sec tion, it follows that a holder made to fit the largest can also be applied to one a fraction of an inch smaller in cross section, but I prefer to make two sizes, or more if neces sary, to fit the standard stretchers and ribs.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. The combination with a rib or stretcher of an umbrella, of a holder having a substantially U-shaped channel to receive said rib or stretcher and having longitudinal opposed grooves at the ed es thereof, and character bearing elements ying above said rib or stretcher and having their edges held in said grooves.

2. A device for applying names to umbrella ribs and stretchers comprising a channel shaped holder, a sheet metal tongue having character bearing elements provided with openings threaded on said tongue, said tongue and character bearing elements being adapted to be slid into said channel after the holder is applied to the rib or stretcher, and means for locking the same in place on said rib or stretcher.

3. A device for applying names to umbrella ribs and stretchers comprising a channel shaped holder, a tongue or strip having character bearing elements provided with eyes or openings threaded on said tongue, said tongue and character bearin elements being adapted to he slid into sai channelv after the holder is applied to the rib or stretcher, and a wedge adapted to be inserted between the ton e and rib or stretcher to hold the parts 1n place.

FRANK GUNN FARNHAM.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE A. ELDRED, N. G. FARNHAM. 

